Edge trimming device for paint roller



1967 F. .J. MURPHY 3,346,899

EDGE TRIMMING DEVICE FOR PAINT ROLLER Filed March 4, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheetl INVENTOR. FREDERICK J. MURPHY ATTORNEYS F. J. MURPHY Get. 17, 1967EDGE TRIMMING DEVICE FOR PAINT ROLLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 4,1965 the line 44 of FIG. 2.

United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE I A painting andtrimming roller type applicator having a resilient sponge-like trimmingapplicator opposite a handle and which has an outwardly exposed trimmingedge and an associated outwardly exposed stop engageable with a ceilingor other intersecting wall.

Background of invention This invention relates to roller devices forapplying paint and other liquid surface coating compounds and toimprovements in attachments therefor.

Summary of invention A paint roller can be used to paintclose to aninside corner formed by two intersecting surfaces, such as a Wall and aceiling, but it cannot be conveniently employed to accurately trim oredge a surface at such an inside corner intersection. A brush iscustomarily used to paint a corner surface; however, where a corner isformed by a wall and ceiling which are to be of different colors, brushtrimming the edges adjacent the intersecting surfaces is a difficult andtime consuming operation.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a roller applicatordevice adapted to rapidly, neatly and accurately paint an inside cornersurface and the edge of a surface adjacent an intersecting surface.

A further object of the invention is to provide a roller applicatordevice adapted for trim painting a surface border which is spaced froman intersecting surface such as a Wall border surface adjacent a cornermolding strip or the like. v

A still further object of the invention is to provide a rollerapplicator painting-device having a spray guard thereon to control thepaint spray or splatter from the roller applicator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a universal paint rollerapplicator attachment incorporating the features set forth in theaforestated objectives.

The drawings show preferred embodiments of the invention and suchembodiments will be described, but it will be understood that variouschanges may be made from the constructions disclosed, and that thedrawings and description are not to be construed as defining or limitingthe scope of the invention.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is, a perspectiveview of a paintroller device embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along FIG. 5 is a plan viewof a roller applicator device showing another embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the device of FIG. 5.

a roller applicator device embodying the present invention. For purposesof present illustration, the device is shown as an attachment for atypical paint roller. However, it should be apparent from thedescription which follows that the device of the present invention maybe incorporated in the construction of a paint roller as an integralpart thereof, and such construction is considered to be within the scopeof the invention.

Typically, a paint roller employed in practicing the invention comprisesan applicator roller 12, a supporting means or frame 14 supporting theroller 12 for rotation about an axis, and a handle means 16 connected tothe frame 14. The roller 12 has a surface of revolution 18, which ispreferably generally cylindrical. The surface 18 is adapted to pick upand spread liquid coating compounds. The frame means 14 preferablyincludes a first portion or axle 20 extending from one end of the roller12 which is journaled thereon, a second portion 22 paral leling the axleand a third portion 24 perpendicularly extending from the secondportion. Connected to the third portion 24 is the handle 16, adapted tobe manually grasped for moving the device relative to a surface to becoated.

The first, second and third portions 20, 22 and 24 and the handle 16 areconventionally coplanar to facilitate effective control in guiding thedevice over a surface. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention,the roller 12 is retained in position on the axle 20 by a wing nut 26,threadably engaging the free end of the axle, and by a pair ofdiametrically opposed lugs 28, 28 struck out on the axle, as shown inFIG. 2.

The aforedescribed roller device typifies a paint roller to which thedevice of the present invention may be attached. However, it should beunderstood that paint rollers which deviate from this construction mayalso be employed in practicing the invention. In this regard, particularreference is made to applicator roller constructions in which the axle20 terminates Wit-bin the roller and does not extend therethrough.

The attachmentembodying the present invention preferably comprises anapplicator pad 30, a pair of limit stops 34, 34, a securing means orbracket 32, and an adjustment means or clip 36.

Sponge rubber is preferably employed as a fabricating material for theapplicator pad '30, because it has been found to provide a verysatisfactory surface for picking up and spreading liquid compounds suchas paint. The pad 30 is elongated and generally rectangular having asubstantially uniform rectangular cross section throughout its entirelength. The pad preferably includes a longitudinally disposed applicatorsurface 38 having a rectilinear edge portion 39 and also includes acontact surface 40 in spaced parallel relation thereto, each of theaforedescribed. surfaces having a longitudinal dimension approximatelyequal to the axial dimension of the roller 12. Also included on the pad30 is a rigid backing strip 42, which may be formed from wood, plastic,metal or other suitable material. The backing strip holds the pad inplace'on the bracket 32 in a manner to be hereinafter described. Asuitable bonding compound is employed to secure the backing strip 42 tothe contact surface 40 with which it is aligned. Included on the backingstrip is a pair of spaced apart longitudinally extending side surfaces44, 44 which are normal to the contact surface 40. For a purpose to behereinafter apparent, the side surfaces 44, 44 define a pair ofparallelly aligned longitudinally extending recesses 46, 46 which arebest shown in FIG. 4.

Means for securing the pad 30 in position relative to the roller 12 isprovided by the bracket 32, which in its presently preferred form isgenerally U-shaped. The bracket includes an elongated intermediatesurface portion 48 having a relatively large surface area adapted to bepositioned generally between the roller 12 and the handle 16. When sopositioned, the portion 48 serves as a spray guard for controlling thepaint spray or splatter from the roller. The longitudinally extendingintermediate portion 48 is axially aligned with the roller 12 when theattachment is in its normal use position.

The bracket 32 further includes a pair of spaced apart end portions 50,50 radially extending from the intermediate surface 48. A pair oflongitudinally aligned apertures 52, 52 adapted for journalling the axle20 are defined by the end portions 50, 50. Thus, the bracket 32 isadapted to receive the roller 12 generally interjacent the end por tions50, 50 with the axle 20 extending therethrough. The bracket 48 is thusarranged to pivot on the axle 20.

A generally C-shaped channel 60 opening outwardly or away from the axle20 is positioned above the roller 12 in axial alignment therewith andextends longitudinally between the end portions 50, 50 being secured.therebetween by an appropriate fastening operation suchas spot welding.The channel 60 includes a pair of spaced apart longitudinally disposedoutwardly extending sideportions 62, 62 having opposed inwardly turnedlongitudinally ex tending end portions 64, 64. The channel is adapted toreceive the backing strip 42 in longitudinally sliding engagementtherein with the end portions 64, 64 engaging the recesses 46, 46. Thus,the bracket 32 and the channel 60, which forms a part thereof, cooperateto hold the applicator pad 30 in a fixed position relative to the roller12 with the outer or rectilinear edge portion 39 in parallel alignmenttherewithand the applicator surface 38 in a plane 66 generallytangential thereto, as best shown in FIG. 3 where the tangential plane66 generally corresponds to the plane of a wall surface.

At least one limit stop 34 is preferably provided to adapt the devicefor trimming an edge surface adjacent a molding strip or the like. Inthe presently preferred embodiment of the invention, two longitudinallyspaced limit stops 34, 34 are provided above the roller 12 in radiallyspaced relation thereto. Each of the stops 34, 34 is an invertedgenerally L-shaped angle section which includes a radially disposed sideportion 68, and an axially disposed upper surface 70.

A radially extending slot 72.defined in each of side portion 68cooperates with a threaded fastener 74 to secure an associated stop 34to the bracket 32 andto provide means for selectively positioning thestop relative to the roller 12.

Adjustment means for selectively positioning the bracket 48 relative tothe frame 14 is provided by the elongated clip 36, which includes anelongated adjustment slot 54 defined therein and a spring clip 56 formedon one end portion thereof. The clip 56 is adjustably secured to thebracket 32 by a threaded fastener 58 which extends through the slot 54and engages the intermediate portion 48. Anjadjustable connectionbetween the frame 14 and the bracket 32 is completed by the spring clipportion 56 which is adapted to engage and releasably retain the secondportion 22. Tightening the fastener 58 retains the bracket in a fixedposition relative to the frame. This adjustment feature enables the userto secure the handle means in a comfortable working position relative toboth of the applicators.

Both the roller 12 and the pad 30 may be used to pick up paint andspread it on a surface to be coated. However, in painting with thedevice it has also been found that highly satisfactory results may beobtained by picking up paint with the roller applicator only andthereafter redistributing it with the applicator pad, which is employedto finish the marginal portion of the surface to be painted.

The aforedescribed device embodying the invention includes a pad havinga rectilinear outer edge portion 39 and is, therefore, particularlyadapted for trimming rectilinear edges. However, it should be apparentthat the adjusting the limit stops radially outwardly from the.

roller, it is possible to limit the maximum upward travel of theapplicator on a wall relative to a ceiling. This feature is particularlyuseful in painting the edge of a wall adjacent the lower edge of amolding strip which lies on the wall adjacent a ceiling.

It should also be noted that the invention may be practiced with limitstop means integral with the securing means or bracket 32. For example,in the embodiment.

shown in FIG. 1 a pair of upper edges 34a, 34a on the end portions 50,50may serve as limit stops in the absence of the adjustable stops 34, 34.Thus when the device is used to paint a wall, the edges 34a, 34a arepositioned so as to contact the ceiling when the edge portion 39 of thepad 30 reaches the line of intersection between the wall and theceiling. This arrangement facilitates the rapid, neat, and accuratetrimming of wall marginal edges.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6 wherein another embodiment of theinvention is shown, an applicator device for painting and edge trimmingcorners is indicated generally by the numeral 10a. In this embodimentthe device of the present invention is incorporated in the constructionof a roller applicator. The device shown comprises a roller applicator12a, an applicator pad 30a, a supporting means or frame 14a supportingthe roller 12a for rotation about an axis, and a handle means 16aconnected to the frame. The roller of-this embodiment preferably takesthe form of a pair of generally frusto-conical sections joined at theirrespective bases to define a surface of revolution 13 including surfaceportions 15, 15 adapted to pick up and spread paint or other surfacecoating material on an inside corner surface such as the surface formedby the intersection of two walls. The roller 12a preferably has aresilient surface which effectively compensates for any slightirregularities in the surface to be coated; thereby assuring the uniformapplication of coating material.

It should be noted that the frame 14a and the handle means 16a form anintegral part of the roller applicator structure.

A longitudinally extending intermediate portion 48a is included in theframe 14a and serves as a splash or splatter guard in the manneraforedescribed. The frame 14a also has a pair of longitudinally spacedend portions 50a, 50a radially extending from the intermediate sur-vface 48a. A pair of longitudinally aligned apertures 52a, 52a adaptedfor journalling an axle 28a are defined by the end portions 50a, 50a.Thus, the frame 14a is adapted to receive the roller 12a generallyinterjacent the end portions 50a, 50a, with the axle 28a extendingtherethrough.

For purposes of present illustration, the handle means 16:: is shown asbeing secured in a fixed position relative to the frame 14a; however,the handle means may also be arranged for adjustable positioningrelative to the frame and such modification is intended to be within thescope of the invention.

The pad 30a includes an applicator surface having two approximatelyright angularly arranged parts 38a, 38a.

adapted to complement the surface of an inside corner. Each surface part38a preferably includes a rectilinear outer edge portion 39a adapted fortrimming an associated marginal portion of the corner surface to becoated. The pad 30a is in all other respects generally similar to a theaforedescribed pad 30.

A generally C-shaped outwardly opening channel 600 positioned above theroller 12a extends longitudinally between the end portions 50a, 50a andis secured therebetween by an appropriate fastening operation such asspot welding. In like manner with the aforedescribed channel 60, thechannel 60a is adapted to receive and hold the pad 30a with therectilinear edges 39a, 39a in general parallel alignment with the axle28a and with each surface part 38a in a plane generellay tangent anassociated roller surface portion 15.

This modified form of the device also includes at least one limit stopindicated generally by the numeral 34b and preferably includes two limitstops 34b, 34b which are generally similar to the corresponding limitstops 34, 34 of the aforedescribed attachment, both in structuralarrangement and function. It should also be understood that a limit stopmeans may be integral with the supporting means or frame 14a. As shown,the upper portion 34c of the frame 14a may serve this function, in theabsence of the adjustable stops 34b, 34b.

The roller applicator 12a in this embodiment is adapted to paint thesurface of inside corners such as formed by two intersecting walls,whereas the applicator pad 30a is adapted to trim or edge the cornersurface, along an edge formed by a third intersecting surface, such as aceiling.

I claim:

1. A roller type applying and trimming device for paint and other liquidsurface coating compounds comprising an applicator roller having asurface of revolution and rotatable about an axis to pick up and spreadliquid coating compounds, means supporting said roller for rotationabout said axis, elongated handle means adapted to be manually graspedfor moving the device relative to a surface to be coated, said handlemeans being connected with said supporting means and extending generallyradially from one side of said roller, a resilient sponge applicator andtrimming pad having a generally flat surface adapted to pick up andspread liquid compounds, means securing said pad adjacent said rollerand on a side thereof opposite said handle means with its said surfacein a plane tangent to the roller for enabling said roller and padsurface to engage a first wall surface to be coated, said pad having onegenerally rectilinear edge disposed at an outer margin of said padsurface and which is exposed outwardly to closely approach a second wallsurface which intersects with said first wall surface engaged in commonby said roller and pad surface, and adjustable stop means adjacent saidpad and having a stop surface exposed outwardly and extending beyondsaid pad edge to engage said intersecting second wall surface andthereby positively to prevent the application of said coating compoundto the second wall surface.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 further characterized byadjustment means for selectively positioning said pad relative to saidhandle means.

3. The combination defined in claim 1 further characterized by saidsupporting means include a surface portion having a longitudinaldimension approximately equal to the axial dimension of said roller,said surface portion being in general parallel alignment with said axisand radially spaced from said roller to provide splatter protection.

4. The combination defined in claim 1 further char- 50 acterized bymeans for adjustably positioning said stop means relative to said padedge.

5. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said roller and said padsurface have corresponding angularly related intersecting first andsecond portions adapted respectively to apply coating compoundsimultaneously to said first wall surface and a third angularly arrangedand intersecting wall surface.

6. In an attachment for a paint roller having a generally cylindricalapplicator roller and frame means supporting said roller for rotationabout an axis, which frame means includes a first portion axiallyextending from one end of the roller, a second portion parallel to theaxis of the roller and a third portion perpendicularly extending fromthe second portion and including handle means, the combinationcomprising an elongated generally rectangular applicator pad ofsubstantially uniform rectangular cross section including alongitudinally disposed applicator surface and a contact surface inspaced parallel relation thereto and having a longitudinal dimensionapproximately equal to the axial dimension of said roller, said padincluding a rigid backing strip secured to said contact surface inalignment therewith, said backing strip including a pair of parallelspaced apart longitudinally extending side surfaces normal to saidcontact surface, said side surfaces defining a pair of parallellyaligned longitudinally extending recesses, a bracket having an elongatedintermediate surface portion adapted to be positioned generally betweenthe roller and the handle means and including an elongated generallyC-shaped channel having a pair of spaced apart longitudinally extendingside portions including opposed inwardly turned longitudinally extendingend portions, said channel being adapted to receive said backing stripin longitudinally sliding engagement therein with said end portions ingripping engagement with said recesses, said bracket being adapted forattachment to the frame means with said intermediate portion and saidpad axially and radially aligned with the roller and said applicatorsurface in a plane generally tangent thereto, and clip means adjustablysecured to said bracket and adapted to engage and releasably retain thesecond portion for adjustably positioning said bracket relative to theframe means.

References Cited DANIEL BLUM, Examiner.

1. A ROLLER TYPE APPLYING AND TRIMMING DEVICE FOR PAINT AND OTHER LIQUIDSURFACE COATING COMPOUNDS COMPRISING AN APPLICATOR ROLLER HAVING ASURFACE OF REVOLUTION AND ROTATABLE ABOUT AN AXIS TO PICK UP AND SPREADLIQUID COATING COMPOUNDS, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID ROLLER FOR ROTATIONABOUT SAID AXIS, ELONGATED HANDLE MEANS ADAPTED TO BE MANUALLY GRASPEDFOR MOVING THE DEVICE RELATIVE TO A SURFACE TO BE COATED, SAID HANDLEMEANS BEING CONNECTED WITH SAID SUPPORTING MEANS AND EXTENDING GENERALLYRADIALLY FROM ONE SIDE OF SAID ROLLER, A RESILEINT SPONGE APPLICATOR ANDTRIMMING PAD HAVING A GENERALLY FLAT SURFACE ADAPTED TO PICK UP ANDSPREAD LIQUID COMPOUNDS, MEANS SECURING SAID PAD ADJACENT SAID ROLLERAND ON A SIDE THEREOF OPPOSITE SAID HANDLE MEANS WITH ITS SAID SURFACEIN A PLANE TANGENT TO THE ROLLER FOR ENABLING SAID ROLLER AND PADSURFACE TO ENGAGE A FIRST WALL SURFACE TO BE COATED, SAID PAD HAVING ONEGENERALLY RECTILINEAR EDGE DISPOSED